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07-21-2013, 03:25 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
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120/240 generator with 50 amp plug
I just got a new Champion generator and it has a 50 amp plug and a 30 amp plug. The 30 amp plug says "120v" under it. The 50 amp plug says "120240v". Can I use the 50 amp plug on the camper? I just bought a 2014 Sandpiper 376BHOK that is 50 amp. My only concern is running 240 on a 120 camper and burning something up. Thoughts?
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07-21-2013, 03:32 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 52
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DO NOT plug your unit into the 240 volt socket. You will damage your RV since it is designed for 120 volts. Only plug your unit into the 30 amp 120 volt socket
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Tom T.
2011 Rockwood Mini Lite 2104
2011 Silverado 5.3 ~ 4X4
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07-21-2013, 03:33 PM
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#3
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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You are right to be concerned. Hooking up the wrong way will fry your camper.
Do you have a volt meter? A photo of the plug and the voltages at each pin would help one of us design an adapter for your generator.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-21-2013, 03:37 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpso13
I just bought a 2014 Sandpiper 376BHOK that is 50 amp.
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Didn't the OP say his travel trailer was of the 50 amp variety?
If the generators 120/240 outlet is wired the same as a campgrounds 120/240 50 amp outlet, it should be OK. Maybe need the generator gurus to chime in on this one.
A TT wired for 50 amps is made to plug into a 240 outlet, then it uses the L1 and L2 as two different 120 volt sides inside the trailer.
However, we need to make absolutely sure the OP has a 50 amp TT. Does your power cord to the trailer have four prongs or three prongs?
__________________
 2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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07-21-2013, 03:39 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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50 amp RV plug is 120/240 volts but you have to make sure generator matches plug configuration. Check this site for more info:
RV Electrical Systems
__________________
Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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07-21-2013, 03:42 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Jefferson County, MO
Posts: 5,452
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I have always felt that putting this sticker on the side of the trailers is confusing. The part that I think confuses many is the line, "or 120/240 volt AC."
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Bob and Joyce
2013 CC Silverback 29RL
2010 Ford F250 XL Crew Cab 6.4 liter diesel
ATU Local 788
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07-21-2013, 03:42 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
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The way I understand it is that each X and Y side of the 50 am plug is 120v. I was hoping that the camper would split this up or maybe the cord 50 amp cord that came with the camper would only utilize on of the 120v wires leaving the other dead. I am definitely not an electrician. I think I have uploaded a picture of the generator.
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07-21-2013, 03:46 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpso13
The way I understand it is that each X and Y side of the 50 am plug is 120v. I was hoping that the camper would split this up
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A 50 amp travel trailer does separate the L1 and L2 (or X and Y) sides.....to utilize each side as 120 volts.
Some higher end coaches/trailers do use some 240 volt appliances, in which case they would combine the L1 and L2 to provide the 240 volts needed for that part........but separate the L1 and L2 for all the other appliances that run off of 120 volts.
For the major majority of RV's......everything just runs of 120 volts.
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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07-21-2013, 03:49 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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07-21-2013, 03:58 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
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Wow this has been extremely helpful. This is my first post and I was surprised at how many responses I got and how quickly. I am going to double check a few things, but it sounds like I am ok to use this 50 amp plug on the generator. Thank you all for helping a fellow camper out.
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07-21-2013, 04:04 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpso13
I was hoping that the camper would split this up or maybe the cord 50 amp cord that came with the camper would only utilize on of the 120v wires leaving the other dead.
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It actually utilizes each of the 120 volts sides at 50 amps per side. This is how you get 100 amps total......from a 120/240 volt 50 amp service........which is over 3 times as much as a 120 volt 30 amp service.
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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07-21-2013, 04:19 PM
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#12
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wmtire
Didn't the OP say his travel trailer was of the 50 amp variety?
If the generators 120/240 outlet is wired the same as a campgrounds 120/240 50 amp outlet, it should be OK. Maybe need the generator gurus to chime in on this one.
A TT wired for 50 amps is made to plug into a 240 outlet, then it uses the L1 and L2 as two different 120 volt sides inside the trailer.
However, we need to make absolutely sure the OP has a 50 amp TT. Does your power cord to the trailer have four prongs or three prongs?
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You are forgetting the neutral that is required for a 50- amp service. A generator's 220 outlet does NOT have a neutral. FRY CITY if he makes an adapter improperly.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-21-2013, 04:34 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769
FRY CITY if he makes an adapter improperly.
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I don't guess I'm understanding where he needs an adapter, as it appeared the Champion generator had a regular 120/240 outlet that one could plug a 50 amp travel trailer into.
I do admit, I'm not a generator genius.
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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07-21-2013, 04:34 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: X
Posts: 2,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpso13
The way I understand it is that each X and Y side of the 50 am plug is 120v. I was hoping that the camper would split this up or maybe the cord 50 amp cord that came with the camper would only utilize on of the 120v wires leaving the other dead. I am definitely not an electrician. I think I have uploaded a picture of the generator.
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Based on the picture, which shows a 50-amp RV plug, you're probably good. It would certainly be worth your time however to use a volt meter to verify that the voltage readings are as shown in this diagram:
(Having a Progressive Industries EMS unit would alleviate any risk from the generator being wired incorrectly.)
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07-21-2013, 04:44 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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Do we know for sure it's actually a 50 amp supply from the generator? It could possibly be less amps, but just a 120/240 outlet.
Can the OP be so kind as to tell us how many watt generator this Champion is?
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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07-21-2013, 04:45 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Your house wiring works the same way. Look in your homes circuit breaker box and you'll see both 120 volt breakers and 240 volt breakers (typically 240 volts are for well pumps, electric stoves, electric dryers). There's usually 2 vertical rows of breakers, with one row tied to the L1 line and the other tied to the L2 line. The 240 breakers are tied across both L1 and L2 (i.e., L1 + L2).
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07-21-2013, 04:49 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
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7500 watt
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07-21-2013, 05:02 PM
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#18
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769
You are forgetting the neutral that is required for a 50- amp service. A generator's 220 outlet does NOT have a neutral. FRY CITY if he makes an adapter improperly.
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Serves me right for not scrolling down and actually LOOKING at the generator.
Yes, Virginia; there is a 50 amp RV service outlet! (with correct Neutral!)
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-21-2013, 05:04 PM
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#19
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpso13
7500 watt
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Looks like 2x~30 amp circuits on that "50 amp RV service" outlet.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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07-21-2013, 05:08 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,923
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Simpso13
7500 watt
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Ok, Thanks. You probably won't be able to run just everything at once, with that size, but you should be able to run an awful lot if not most. It all depends on how your TT is configured with the loads on each side (L1 and L2)
You still have twice as much power as a regular 30 amp TT which you can compute as:
Volts X amps = watts
120 volts X 30 amps = 3600 watts
BTW, if the OP decides he no longer wants this generator, I'll give you $100 for it. LOL
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS
A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
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